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Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, disregarding conventional military tactics and the maze formation’s complexity, rushed recklessly through the wilderness towards Cherry Blossom Valley. Their chaotic advance was bound to lead some of them to the valley’s entrance. “I found it! I found the entrance!” came a triumphant shout, audible only to a few nearby groups due to the maze’s constraints on voice transmission.

“Charge!” they bellowed, unleashing intense Resentment Energy as they surged into the entrance.

“Hmph! Are you sure about that?” Kimiko, diminutive but formidable, stood protectively in front of Haihime and Yukiko. As she cast her spell, her bushy tail swayed, unleashing fox flames. Despite her size, her defenses were formidable, particularly against adversaries below triple-soul Big Dipper Stage, bolstered by her own strength and an array of items at her disposal.

Most demon commanders were preoccupied battling Lily, leaving only a few to infiltrate the formation. None had yet breached the entrance defended by Kimiko. The undead soldiers, impervious to pain and fear, continued their relentless advance despite being scorched by the fox flames, a sight that unnerved the girls behind Kimiko. Even as some lost their legs to the flames and fell, they crawled onward, undeterred until they were reduced to ashes.

Kimiko summoned ancient samurai from several folding screens. These figures, lifelike and elegant, stepped out of their two-dimensional confines once activated by spiritual power, brandishing their weapons with formidable grace. Despite emerging from artwork, their power was undeniable, efficiently dispatching the half-burnt soldiers who had made it through.

Although a few soldiers managed to find their way to the valley entrance, the majority were halted by the surrounding mountain walls. Some, undeterred, began to scale these steep barriers. The undead climbers, possessing extraordinary strength common to those at the Permanence Stage and even some at the Throned Stage, found little difficulty in ascending the cliffs.

Additionally, small numbers of Yomi monsters capable of flight sporadically entered Cherry Blossom Valley, navigating through the fog. Even one of these creatures posed a significant threat.

With a sudden and thunderous arrival, a Yomi Demon Wolf enveloped in demonic fog and with eerie, round eyes, soared into the valley. Though not a demon commander, its status as a Throned Monarch made it more than capable of causing chaos in the valley, where powerhouses were scarce.

In Blossom Valley, panic spread rapidly as all the craftsmen and civilians promptly evacuated. Many of these residents were normal civilians and weaker demons who had sought refuge from Suno. However, the stronger demons, those at or above the Throned Stage, refused to abandon Suno. Choosing to stay hidden in the wilderness as they sought to evade Yoritomo’s army.

The serene atmosphere of Blossom Valley was abruptly shattered by the arrival of a formidable demon wolf. It taunted with malicious glee, “Hehehehe. Humans, this valley teems with deliciously weak prey! I shall feast on a few beautiful women first!” The wolf’s attention turned to a Tsunaga Sister Onmyoji, a mere Spirit Jade Stage Jade Maiden. Her spells, weak and futile against the wolf’s might, were nullified instantly, rendering her petrified and frozen in fear.

As the wolf lunged, its massive jaws revealing fearsome, bloodied fangs, the Onmyoji’s terrified scream, “No, no!” filled the air. However, in an unexpected moment, a streak of pitch-black blade energy slashed through the wolf’s back, leaving a deep wound from which Yomi energy poured like a fountain.

The wolf, taken aback by the sudden attack, howled in pain and turned to face its assailant. Confronting the wolf was Shimizu, a young woman adorned in dark robes, floating amidst pulsating black energy. Her hair, dark as the night and adorned with golden butterflies, gave her an otherworldly aura. Shimizu’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she mockingly said, “Hehehehe. What a surprise, my first kill after emerging turns out to be just a little puppy.”

Despite its severe injury, the wolf, driven by rage and pain, lunged at Shimizu. To its shock, Shimizu’s weapon emitted an unusual force, draining the wolf’s escaping Yomi energy. Weakening rapidly, the wolf made a last desperate attack. Shimizu, displaying remarkable agility, floated behind the beast in an instant. Extending her arms, she unleashed strange energy pulses, halting the wolf’s movements. The beast could only watch helplessly as its life force was siphoned away.

With its Yomi energy drained, the wolf collapsed, its body disintegrating into dust, returning to nature’s embrace. “Miss Shimizu!” exclaimed the Jade Maiden, her voice laced with relief and awe. Shimizu floated gently towards her, tenderly lifting her face and bestowing a comforting peck on her cheek. The Jade Maiden’s cheeks flushed red, her legs giving way under the overwhelming emotion.

Shimizu, having fully absorbed Baku’s dark energy, had made a significant advancement, reaching the status of a single-soul Big Dipper. Her newfound strength, a fusion of her Celestial Maiden Physique, the absorbed dark energy, the Blade Maiden’s ability, and a mysterious sword technique from the Ancient Magatama, placed her power on par with a triple-soul Big Dipper¹.

At the same moment, within a half-built dwelling in Cherry Blossom Valley, tranquility was shattered by the sudden entrance of a colossal late-stage Throned Monarch toad. Originating from Yomi’s Sulfur Valleys, the toad’s body was etched with sulfuric runes, emitting suffocating plumes of noxious fumes and dense black smoke, marking the arrival of yet another formidable adversary.

The toad, adept at leaping, had infiltrated the valley. “There’s an important place in this valley, a stronghold of that wanted criminal, Lily. I will demolish it and annihilate everyone inside!” it declared, opening its mouth wide to unleash its massive tongue in an attack. However, a swift pink blade energy, a strike from Kagura’s Brocade-Patterned Koi, severed its tongue in a single, clean cut.

The toad, reeling in shock and pain, found itself under Kagura’s relentless assault. With a swift advance, she unleashed multiple energy blades from her weapon, killing the toad instantly. “Dare to assault Cherry Valley? In your dreams,” she muttered, her confidence evident.

Kagura, stationed in Cherry Blossom Valley on Lily’s orders with three Blood Spirit Magatama, was prepared to face any threat. Whether typical demons or a surprise onslaught from Yoritomo’s powerful demon commanders, she stood ready to repel them all. For her, dispatching the toad didn’t even require a Blood Spirit Magatama.

Meanwhile, outside the maze, the fiercest battle raged. Lily, alone, confronted Kamakura, Hikomoto, and over a dozen demon commanders. Now, only seven or eight remained, five slain by Lily herself. But Kamakura was cunning, setting up sacrificial altars and spell formations in the vicinity to distract Lily. Though she destroyed each one, it diverted her focus.

Lily excelled in prolonged battles, her spirit power seemingly endless. In contrast, the demon commanders were gradually draining from the intense combat. Suddenly, three demons, apparently from the same Yomi faction, ignited their Stellar Souls, coalescing into a formation that summoned a tattered ancient beast, its form a maelstrom of black and silver light. The beast, embodying tenacity, charged at Lily.

Despite the beast’s ferocity, Lily, wary of surrounding threats, retreated rapidly, pausing mid-air to release a barrage of silver threads, ensnaring the beast. “Thousand Sakura Linger!” she declared, as the beast became entangled above.

Ignoring the snared beast, Lily’s speed intensified, transforming into a streak of light, and she plunged into the rear of the formation. Hikomoto, attempting to intervene, swung his weapon with force. “Don’t even think about it!” he barked, only for Lily to evade with an agile somersault.

The air reverberated with a loud bang as Kamakura’s palm strike, launched from afar, found its mark on Lily. She couldn’t dodge again so swiftly, but her physical resilience allowed her to endure the formidable strike. Her acceleration post-impact stunned the demons, and in a heartbeat, she was upon them. With a swift motion, her blade sliced through one of them.

The formation fell apart, the beast vanished, and the two remaining demons bore the brunt of the backlash. One was sent reeling from Lily’s powerful kick, his chest caving in under the force, while the other was swiftly beheaded.

The resilience and strength of the demons, formidable as they were, paled in comparison to Lily’s unexpected destructive prowess. Her stunning appearance belied the sheer force she contained, leaving even the gargantuan Kamakura unable to overpower her with brute strength alone. Hikomoto, realizing the potential threat he could pose if he ignited his Stellar Soul, hesitated, unwilling to sacrifice his hard-earned progress for a momentary advantage.

In the heat of battle, as Lily methodically dismantled their formation, Hikomoto lunged at her from behind, his weapon aimed at her back. With a deft somersault, Lily evaded, the blade just grazing her feet. Almost simultaneously, Kamakura, seizing the moment, directed a heavy strike of his dark blade towards her waist. Lily, caught mid-air, managed to parry the attack, but the force reverberated through her body, a testament to Kamakura’s formidable power.

Hikomoto, quick to exploit any opening, reversed his weapon for an upward slash aimed at Lily’s lower back. A clang resonated as Lily, with exceptional reflexes, conjured Crescent Moon in her other hand, effectively blocking the attack. Despite being caught in a perilous pincer move, Lily’s eyes blazed with a fierce resolve.

Harnessing the momentum from the dual attacks, Lily executed a stunning pirouette, her movements akin to a blossoming flower. Yasutsuna and Crescent Moon, enveloped in dazzling sword energy, whirled around her in a deadly dance. With a swift, fluid motion, Crescent Moon shattered Hikomoto’s armor, leaving a gaping wound on his shoulder. Yasutsuna, following through with unrelenting precision, cleaved deeply into the injury, severing his entire arm and a part of his shoulder in a single, decisive stroke.

1. Robinxen: What’s even the point of this power scale anymore author?!?!